Taxpayers: BOE Needs to Consider Staff Cuts, Healthcare Cost Revamp

The next four Babylon School District budget meetings will clearly be full of debate, and possibly pit taxpayers against district staff unions, if initial community feedback about budget decisions is any indication.

The district is facing a 12 percent cut in state aid, which represents a $790,397 decrease, and double-digit increases in health insurance and “skyrocketing” retirement program costs, say administrators.

Cutbacks in spend are almost certain this year, given that a roll-over budget, which would not alter current staffing or programming, would mean a 10.7 percent budget boost of just over $3 million dollars.

Several community residents, who attended last night’s board of education first budget work shop meeting, view the scenario as a ripe time to trim back staff, salary and benefits.

“We need to address staffing and be creative now as there are a lot of options,” AnneMarie Martino told the board after a budget review presentation by Deputy Superintendent Peter Daly on Monday evening. “We can’t wait until April to start,” the former board of education member said.

Another resident said “serious consideration” needs to be given to reducing administration staff, noting that 13 building personnel are handling school discipline issues, which is “overkill.”

“There is duplication of job descriptions from the administration to the secretary level and everyone should be paying more for their health benefits.”

The school board has not yet begun talking about potential program or staff cuts, but has initiated discussions with the teacher’s union, according to Superintendent Ellen Best-Laimit. The board said it is  hoping to re-negotiate the current teacher’s contract that expires in June 2012. The administrator’s contract expires this June.

Contract negotiations are complex, said board members, as they can be used to get a short-term fix or deal with what one board member called “structural problems” with current contracts.

“The step chart in the contract has to be redone,” noted trustee Roger Katz but adding that such a negotiation may not be possible in the current budget timeframe and may require undertaking a long-term contract strategy approach.

Community residents also asked the board to review employee health care contributions given that employees pay 17 percent of the premium and the district pays the remaining 83 percent of the cost.

“Most private companies require employees to pay at least 20 percent and some more,” said one resident.

Current health care premiums for individuals cost $7,000 and the family premium is $14,000. The district health care program is the New York State Empire plan that 90 percent of New York school districts use, said Daly.

The district will hold four budget workshops in the next two months: March 14, March 28, April 11 and April 18. There will be a public hearing on a proposed budget on May 9. The budget vote and trustee election is scheduled for May 17 at the grade school from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.